Аs thе sаying goеs, flаttеrу nеver fails to рlеase.
Еspeсiаllу whеn Zhоu Shаojin spоke with such sincerity.
Old Маdam Guо cоuldn't hеlр but lаugh heаrtilу аnd sаid, "Whеn I was уoung, I could indееd live uр to your wоrds. But baсk when the оld mаstеr wаs аlivе, hе often соmplаinеd thаt I liked tо stir up trоublе and meddlе in оthers' аffairs. I even hаd a big argument with him оvеr this. Nоw that I'm оld and my enеrgу is wаning, I oftеn fоrgеt things whеn hаndling mаtters. Еvеn if I wantеd to intеrfere, I сan't аnуmоre, аnd I'vе grоwn tоo lazy tо bother. It just goes to shоw how things changе with time. What оncе sеemеd like the biggest problem, when looked back on after a few years, turns out to have been manageable. And after a dozen more years, it seems even less significant. So, one must keep an open heart and live joyfully."
Zhou Shaojin felt that Old Madam Guo's words made a lot of sense.
In her past life, she had gone through so much and often thought about dying.
But later, afraid of causing her sister grief or bringing shame upon her, she slowly endured and managed to hold on, living for more than a decade longer.
After chatting with Old Madam Guo for a while, the old madam urged her to attend to her own matters: "...After making such a scene, Jia must surely want someone close to confide in. Go and keep her company to soothe her heart, so she doesn't keep running around aimlessly like this. She was lucky this time, but one can't always rely on luck. Take my words to her as well. Whether she listens or not is up to her."
The old madam was truly the type who appeared stern but was warm-hearted.
Zhou Shaojin felt a warmth in her heart and couldn't help but grow closer to the old madam. She hugged the old madam's arm and softly replied, "I'll be back soon."
Old Madam Guo, accustomed to being strong, had no daughters. Although her three granddaughters had grown up under her care—Cheng Zheng was dignified, Cheng Xiao was proud, and Cheng Sheng was charming—none were as innocent yet endearing as Zhou Shaojin. Without thinking, she patted Shaojin's head and had Nanny Lu escort her out.
Nanny Lu's smile toward Zhou Shaojin grew even warmer.
Only when guests visited and the lady managing the household affairs was present would she be tasked with seeing them off. The second young miss was merely going to visit Miss Jia, yet she had been assigned to accompany her. In the past, only Miss Zheng had received such treatment. Now, the second young miss had caught up to Miss Zheng.
She personally lifted the curtain for Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin didn't pay it much mind.
Her thoughts were entirely occupied with Cheng Jia's situation.
Should she tell Cheng Jia about Li Jing's plans?
If Cheng Jia found out, would she be unable to keep her composure and reveal the secret?
If her illness required continued treatment and Li Jing kept her at Nine Prosperities Lane to recuperate, would it delay things and allow Cheng Jia to become engaged to the son of that prefect?
And if the engagement were finalized, how would Li Jing untangle this knot?
Zhou Shaojin felt a faint throbbing at her temples. She could only hope that Cheng Chi would return soon.
Once Uncle Chi was back, she wouldn't have to worry about this matter anymore!
The maid on duty at the door lifted the curtain and attended to her as she entered the side room where the third branch was resting.
The side room had three bays—one main room and two inner rooms. One side was occupied by Old Madam Li, while the other housed Cheng Jia and Madam Jiang. As the courtyard was filled with female family members, Cheng Lu rested elsewhere.When Zhou Shaojin entered, Cheng Lu and Cheng Jia had just finished arguing. He sat stiffly on the master's chair before the central hall, his face ashen, while Madam Jiang sat opposite him with reddened eyes. Seeing Zhou Shaojin, Cheng Lu gave her a stiff nod, while Madam Jiang said somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you for coming to see her! Jia'er isn't feeling well. She just fell asleep..."
This was practically a dismissal.
Zhou Shaojin flushed crimson.
Cheng Lu remained silent.
Perhaps they were afraid Cheng Jia would spill everything in front of her, saying things that would embarrass them?
Under normal circumstances, Zhou Shaojin would have turned and left immediately. But remembering Li Jing's request, she steeled herself and stayed. With a serious expression, she said, "Since Cousin Jia is asleep, I won't disturb her. How is her injury? Does she still need to continue taking Master Shi Hui's medicine?"
These questions carried deeper implications.
Both Cheng Lu and Madam Jiang assumed Old Madam Guo had sent her to inquire.
Madam Jiang replied, "Jia'er is fine now. Master Shi Hui just examined her and prescribed another dose of medicine, saying she'll recover after taking it. Your Uncle Lu is planning to discuss with the old madam about returning to Nine Prosperities Lane the day after tomorrow."
That's good!
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Then I'll take my leave!"
But as soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Jia's voice came from inside the room: "Shao Jin, I'm awake! Won't you come in and keep me company?" She added, "Shao Jin and I are as close as sisters, and we live in the same courtyard. You can hide things for a while, but not forever. What's the point of all this?"
"You..." Madam Jiang jumped up at these words, but Cheng Lu grabbed her arm and said, "Enough out of you!"
Madam Jiang turned away indignantly.
Cheng Jia lay quietly in bed, her face sallow and her appearance haggard.
She turned her head toward Zhou Shaojin with a bitter smile and said, "You must think I'm very foolish, right? I never imagined I would do such a thing. But whenever I think about marrying someone else and living with them, I can't bear it for even a moment. I'd rather walk through fire or climb mountains of knives..."
Zhou Shaojin slowly walked over and sat on the brocade stool beside the bed. She instructed the young maid attending nearby to fetch her a bowl of chilled mung bean soup, saying, "...The weather is too hot!"
It was just a matter of going to the door to pass on the message.
The young maid, suspecting nothing, smiled and went to do as told.
Zhou Shaojin urgently whispered, "Li Jing wants to take you away, but he's afraid your illness requires Master Shi Hui's medicine. Find a way to get the medicine, and I'll notify Li Jing."
Cheng Jia's eyes instantly welled with tears as she tightly grasped Zhou Shaojin's hand. "Shao Jin, I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled faintly but couldn't help asking, "Is it worth it?"
"It is!" Cheng Jia said, her previously dull face suddenly glowing as if coated with a layer of glaze. "Even if he abandons me heartlessly in the future, I'll know his feelings for me now are genuine."
Having lived two lifetimes, Zhou Shaojin had never experienced such burning passion.
Or rather, she had never entertained such bold thoughts.
She recalled Jiying's words again.
Should one live a lifetime putting on airs for the sake of a good reputation, or follow one's heart and live freely...
Zhou Shaojin began to feel dazed once more.
The young maid who had gone to deliver the message returned, smiling as she said, "Second Cousin, the mung bean soup will be here shortly."Zhou Shaojin smiled and said, "I almost forgot. Old Madam Guo once reminded me not to eat anything chilled in the summer. Perhaps I should skip it?"
She didn’t want to linger in Cheng Jia’s room for long.
Surely, Li Jing would act as soon as he received the news. If she stayed too long, Madam Jiang might suspect her involvement afterward.
Zhou Shaojin wasn’t afraid of Madam Jiang’s suspicions herself, but she feared implicating the eldest branch of the family.
She stood up to take her leave.
Cheng Jia grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Please take care of Cui Huan for me!"
Still bedridden, Li Jing would be fortunate enough to manage taking Cheng Jia away; it was unlikely he could bring Cui Huan along as well.
Moreover, Zhou Shaojin was not some poor relative living off the Cheng family. She had longtime Zhou family servants attending to her, making her better positioned to protect Cui Huan.
Zhou Shaojin nodded and returned to the side room where she and Old Madam Guo were staying.
Old Madam Guo was speaking with Old Madam Guan: "...Regardless of how Jia’s illness turns out, I plan to set off back home soon. All this noise and commotion they’ve been making is giving me a headache."
Old Madam Guan also wanted to extricate herself, so Old Madam Guo’s words suited her perfectly. She quickly replied, "I’ll return with you!"
Old Madam Guo nodded in agreement.
Zhou Shaojin stepped forward to pay her respects to Old Madam Guan.
Old Madam Guo then said, "You’ve come just in time. I’ve already had the maids and servants start packing. Go to the third branch once more and bid farewell on my behalf."
This way, the third branch would be even more convinced that Zhou Shaojin had visited Cheng Jia on Old Madam Guo’s behalf to inquire about her illness.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes grew slightly moist as she softly replied, "Yes," and headed to the third branch.
As expected, the third branch interpreted it exactly that way.
By the time Zhou Shaojin and the others had finished packing, Cheng Lu and Madam Jiang personally came to see Old Madam Guo and her party off.
Old Madam Guo didn’t say much more and directly boarded the carriage.
Zhou Shaojin, Old Madam Guo, and Old Madam Guan made their way back home.
The following afternoon, Cheng Lu, pale-faced and unsteady on his feet, rushed into Cold Green Mountain House and knelt before Old Madam Guo: "Eldest Aunt, I beg you, please have Zi Chuan return quickly! Cheng Jia has disappeared! Li Jing is gone too! It must be that scoundrel Li Jing who tricked Cheng Jia into leaving. We can’t make this public or report it to the authorities, so I have no choice but to ask Zi Chuan for help. He’s been managing the family’s affairs these past few years and knows all sorts of people from every walk of life. Our third branch will cover the expenses—could you please ask Zi Chuan to help me find Cheng Jia? She’s my only daughter..."
Old Madam Guo glanced at Zhou Shaojin, who remained composed, and said, "Get up quickly. I’ll send word to Si Lang right away!"
Cheng Lu nodded but remained kneeling for a long moment, unable to rise. It was only when Nanny Lu helped him up that he stumbled out of the main room.
Old Madam Guo sighed, "How pitiable are the hearts of parents everywhere!" She then instructed Biyu to take her tally token and ask the outer courtyard’s steward to arrange for someone to deliver a message to Cheng Chi.
Yet, to everyone’s astonishment, just a day later, Li Jing actually sent a matchmaker to propose marriage to Cheng Jia.
The matchmaker’s respectful demeanor and the lavishness of the betrothal gifts presented were enough to surprise even the wealthy third branch.
Madam Jiang flew into a rage, leaping to her feet to drive the matchmaker out.
But Cheng Lu, his face dark, stopped her and kept the matchmaker there. He accepted Li Jing’s birth chart and told the matchmaker, "If he wants to marry our daughter, let him find a pair of wild geese as part of the betrothal gifts."
Wild geese had become increasingly scarce by then, and geese were often used as substitutes in marriage proposals.
The matchmaker was overjoyed.
Master Li had promised her ten taels of silver just for making this visit, regardless of whether the marriage proposal succeeded or not.
Madam Jiang refused to agree.As soon as the matchmaker left, she started making a scene with Cheng Lu.
Cheng Lu, eyes reddened, said, "Then what do you want? Should we let Jia’er go be that boy’s concubine?"
Madam Jiang froze on the spot.
Old Madam Li, who usually never interfered, rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing Madam Jiang’s state, she gave a cold smile and said sarcastically, "Are you actually displeased with Li Jing himself, or are you just unhappy with his background?"
Cheng Lu shot a cold glance her way.
Madam Jiang shuddered.
She knew the matter was already settled.
Her reason for opposing had always been Li Jing’s background. Yet Li Jing was her mother-in-law’s grandnephew from her maiden family. To say that her mother-in-law’s grandnephew had a poor background was essentially saying her mother-in-law was not good enough.
She slumped weakly into the armchair, feeling as though she had raised a daughter for nothing.
That very afternoon, Li Jing sent over a pair of wild geese as a betrothal gift.
Three days later, the two families finalized the marriage agreement, and Cheng Jia was sent back home.
※
Dear readers, here’s today’s update.
PS: I have a lot going on tomorrow, so there will only be one update, scheduled for around 10 p.m. Please bear with me!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel